Charge It! Are you a shopaholic?

The first credit card came onto the shopping scene in the late 1950s, and Americans have been living on borrowed money ever since. Do you know what shopping habits might indicate you have a shopping addiction?

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Question 1 of 20

It's estimated that how many Americans are shopaholics?

one out of five

one out of 10

one out of 20

One out of 20 Americans shop compulsively.

Question 2 of 20

True or false: "Shop 'til you drop" is the rally cry of more women than men.

true

false

False. Shopaholics split almost right down the middle along gender lines -- roughly 50 percent in each gender.

Question 3 of 20

Which type of item do male shopaholics tend to purchase?

tools

books

electronics

all of the above

Male shopaholics tend to buy tools, books and electronics.

Question 4 of 20

What three items are the most popular among female shopaholics?

clothes, shoes and jewelry

The three most common purchases among female shopaholics are clothing, shoes and jewelry.

clothes, shoes and books

shoes, cosmetics and electronics

Question 5 of 20

How many pairs of shoes were in Imelda Marcos' collection when she was the first lady of the Philippines?

500 to 1,000 pairs

1,000 to 2,000 pairs

2,000 to 3,000 pairs

Imelda left behind between 2,000 and 3,000 pairs of shoes when she fled the Philippines in 1986.

Question 6 of 20

What is shopoholism also known as?

compulsive shopping

shopping addiction

compulsive buying disorder

all of the above

Shopaholism is also known as compulsive shopping, shopping addiction and compulsive buying disorder (CBD).

Question 7 of 20

In addition to excessive shopping, which is a sign you may have a compulsive buying disorder?

your shopping has racked up large debts

you lie about how much you spend

you get a "high" from spending but feel guilty or depressed afterwards

all of the above

Compulsive shoppers describe feeling a "rush" or a "high" while they shop, followed by feelings of relief, guilt and depression. They not only spend outside their means, but may also lie about their purchases and debts.

Question 8 of 20

When did debtors' prisons become illegal in the United States?

1733

1833

Imprisonment in federal prisons due to unpaid debt has been illegal in the United States since 1833.

1933

Question 9 of 20

How many credit cards does the average American have?

1

2

3

The average American has three credit cards.

Question 10 of 20

True or false: Debt is the number one cause of conflict in marriage or long-term partnership.

true

True. Debt is the number-one reason for stress in a marriage.

false

Question 11 of 20

Which of the following conditions is not considered an impulse-control disorder?

pathological gambling

binge eating

obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is considered an anxiety disorder. Although compulsive shoppers often feel obsessed with shopping and compelled to spend, shopaholism is considered an impulse-control disorder.

compulsive buying disorder

Question 12 of 20

What test is used to screen for compulsive buying disorder?

Compulsive Buying Scale

The Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS) is a clinically-validated screening tool used to diagnose compulsive buying disorder.

Compulsive Shopping Scale

Compulsive Spending Scale

Question 13 of 20

True or false: Hoarding and compusive buying disorder are the same thing.

true

false

False. Unlike hoarders, who suffer from a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, compulsive shoppers don't place inappropriate value on belongings nor do they lack the ability to discard purchases.

Question 14 of 20

In addition to compulsive buying disorder, what other condition might cause compulsive shopping?

generalized anxiety disorder

tardive dyskinesia

bipolar disorder

People suffering from the manic episodes of bipolar disorder may also shop excessively and impulsively, but unlike shopaholics, they don't feel guilty about their spree.

Question 15 of 20

How many shopaholics have had their shopping get in the way of relationships?

24 percent

68 percent

Sixty-eight percent of people with compulsive buying disorder report problems in personal relationships as a direct result of their shopping.

80 percent

Question 16 of 20

When was compulsive shopping first characterized as a disorder?

1885

1915

German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin was the first to give us a description of compulsive buying disorder, back in 1915. Kraepelin called it oniomania.

1985

Question 17 of 20

How are men most likely to describe their compulsive shopping?

shopping

collecting

Men who are shopaholics often describe their behavior as "collecting."

stockpiling

Question 18 of 20

Which is NOT currently part of standard therapy for treating compulsive buying disorder?

credit couseling

cognitive-behavior therapy

seratonin uptake inhibitors (such as Prozac)

Psychopharmalogic treatments such as seratonin uptake inhibitors have not proven to be any more effective than a placebo in relieving CBD.

Question 19 of 20

True or false: Compulsive shopping is a problem only for the wealthy.

true

false

False. Shopping addiction doesn't know what income tax bracket you are in.

Question 20 of 20

At what age does compulsive shopping usually start?

late teens and early 20s

Compulsive buying disorder typically shows up when a person is in late adolescence or young adulthood.